Meeting at Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation

On January 10, 2020, a meeting was held at Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation, within the frames of the project - EURAXESS Georgia. The Foundation initiates development of the services and trainings with participation of partner universities and scientific –research centers. The Academy was represented with two members – Deputy President Dr. Anatoli Giorgadze and Learned Secretary Dr. Revaz Lolishvili. General Director of the Foundation talked about wide perspectives of EURAXESS - Georgia and its further development. The Website will be on Georgian and English languages, besides instructions will be also in Abkhaz language.

Training of Trainers will be organized who will later conduct trainings about the application of the Platform and the perspectives of the Foundation in international projects. The goal of the planned measures is to raise the index of achievement of Georgian scholars.

Deputy Director, Nino Gachechiladze talked about the aims of EURAXESS - Georgia, its possibilities, communication strategy and expected results.

Series of activities conducted within the project EURAXESS - Georgia, also the content and timetable of planned trainings on the topic of the application of the platform was also discussed.

The representatives of Rustaveli Foundation Scientific Department Lana Davituliani and Salome Sharashenidze participated in the discussion held round the problem.

It was decided that one of the employees of the academy will participate in training sessions; and then the Academy of Agricultural Sciences will be registered as a scientific organization into the network EURAXESS – European Union organization of Researches and Innovations. Moreover, individual members of the Academy will be able to register in the network which will significantly increase opportunity of the GAAS members to be involved in international projects.

On December 24, 2019, at Ivane Javakhishvili State University, a summing up meeting of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation was held. Among meeting participants were the representatives of Georgian Government and Parliament, Georgian academies, scientific societies, higher education institutions, and young researchers.

The Meeting was opened by Director of the Foundation Zviad Gabisonia.

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport M. Chkhenkeli, Head of the Parliament Committee of Education, Science and Culture Genadi Margvelashvili, and the Rector of Javakhishvili State University Giorgi Sharvashidze spoke about a significant role of the Foundation in development of science in the country.

Zviad Gabisonia presented a detailed account about the scientific work and activities conducted during the year of 2019, also, he spoke about the plans and perspectives of thee organization in 2020.

The Meeting continued working in three different Panels: first – “Development of Scientific Researches”, the second – “Popularization of Science”, and the third – “ Internationalization of Science”.

In the First Panel the following persons took part: Director of the Foundation Z. Gabisonia, N. Mitskevich, Deputy Minister of Ministry if Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Rector of Javakhishvili State University Giorgi Sharvashidze, Academician E. Shapakidze, Head of Academic Department, GAAS, young researchers and a foundation grant recipient.

Academician E. Shapakidze talked about the scientific work of the Academy, perspective plans, and about participation of GAAS in the competitions announced by the Foundation.

At the meeting, it was mentioned that from 2013- till 2019 international scientific conferences organized by the Academy was financially supported by the Science Foundation. Moreover, in September 2020, a General Assembly of the Union of European Academies for Science applied to Agriculture, Food and Nature (UEAA), the member of which Georgian Academy has been since 2014, will be held in Tbilisi, hosted by Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. At the same time, an International Conference on the topic: “Agricultural Mechanization in Europe and Perspectives” will be organized. E. Shapakidze informed the audience that the Academy has already started preparation work for the Conference to accomplish successfully the abovementioned scientific forum.

Academician J. Katsitadze, and Scholarship owners G. Kutelia and E. Katsitadze also took part in the final, summing up part of the meeting.  

First Panel participants from the left: Academician E. Shapakidze, Head of Academic Department, GAAS , Director of the Foundation Z. Gabisonia, , Deputy Minister of Ministry if Education, Science, Culture and Sport, N. Mitskevich, the Rector of Javakhishvili State University Giorgi Sharvashidze

On December 18, 2019, a Meeting of Agrarian Innovations was held. The presenters were the representatives of Georgian National Platform of Clusters Nodar Dzidzikashvili and Koba Kikabidze who delivered a lecture on: “The Conditions and Opportunities of Development of Economic Clusters in Georgia”.

A number of strategic documents regarding agricultural policy in Georgia has been set up in our country and they are in the process of discussion, such as : “The Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2021- 2027”.

The Document does not give the perspectives which may be provided by a new business organizational forms, such as clusters, agro-logistical platforms, and technological hubs.

Globalization encompasses all spheres of economic production, therefore Georgian producers could be also be involved in this network which will enhance the acquisition of new technologies and business management methods.

The Clusters also support employment opportunities, transfer of knowledge and technologies.

Because there is no political or legislative basis for the development of clusters in our country at present, it has started to develop - “Bottom - up” without little involvement of the Government. The main initiators are non-governmental organizations and business, though, in some cases the businessmen involved in cluster structures are not aware of the essence of the structure and do not have a clear understanding about the importance of its membership.

The clusters were presented at the meeting on the example of Bolnisi Municipality; and the focus was made on logistically integrated clusters of wine, essential oil, and other.

“Georgian National Platform of Clusters” in 2018 registered two Georgian clusters – Tourism and Tuberculosis Treatment on European Clusters Collaborative Platform. They both were awarded with Bronze Certificates and were located on European Map of Clusters.

On December 18, 2019, at Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, a Memorandum of Collaboration was signed between the Academy and Rapael Dvali Institute of Machine Mechanics.

The Memorandum was signed by Academician, the President of GAAS Guram Aleksidze, and– the Director, Academician of Georgian National Academy Tamaz Natriashvili from the side of the Institute.

The subject of the Memorandum is collaboration between the sides based on mutual understanding and respect. The goal of the collaboration is to work jointly within their functions and competences for the purpose of introducing some innovations and implementing new technologies.

The main objectives of the Memorandum is to set up joint working groups, coordinate scientific- research work and exchange information; within the frame of the memorandum, the sides also envisage to hold joint symposiums and conferences; offer support in consulting and testing of the new product.

The Memorandum is in force for five years; in case any problem emerges, the changes could be introduced in the document based on mutual agreement.

A ceremony of signing the Memorandum was attended by Abas Aliev, Director of Institute of Cybernetics, Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Dr. Anatoli Giorgadze, Deputy President of GAAS, and Academician Aleksandre Didebulidze.

The Memorandum was signed by Guram Aleksidze, and Tamaz Natriashvili. A ceremony of signing the Memorandum was attended by Abas Aliev, Director of Institute of Cybernetics, Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Dr. Anatoli Giorgadze, Deputy President of GAAS, and Academician Aleksandre Didebulidze.

From the left Academician Guram Aleksidze, and Academician Tamaz Natriashvili after signing the Memorandum